Ultimate skate park in works

VALLEY kids, dig out your skateboards from the bottom of your closets, take your scooters out of the shed and start practising on that new RipStick you got for Christmas - you are about to get your first skate park.

Mackay Regional Council (MRC) has been in discussions with Pioneer Valley teenagers about what they want in a skate park and together they have come up with the ultimate design.

It will be built at George Johnson Park, Mirani.

MRC youth development officer Neil Kempe said the skate park would cater for youths riding all forms of wheels.

The skate obstacles include two quarter pipes, a ground rail and a fun box.

“It will be built on a 20-metre by 10-metre slab so more equipment can be added later,” Mr Kempe said.

The fun box had four sloping sides, including a roof, while the guard rails would be low pipes which youths could jump their skateboards onto, he said.

Yesterday James Jensen, 14, was practising tricks on his unicycle in preparation for the new skate park.

“We really need one, there are a lot of people in Mirani that have to drive to Walkerston skate park,” James said.

James and his friend Matt Grummitt, 15, are part of the Valley District Youth Council.

It was the Valley District Youth Council, with the help of Mr Kempe, which successfully lobbied MRC to build the skate park.

The youth council was also involved in designing the park.

“There has been nothing like this in the Valley before, it will be our first skate park,” Mr Kempe said.

MRC Engineering Services director Stuart Holley said the skate facility was part of council's $1.8 million commitment to parks across the region.

“Work on the skate park is nearing commencement,” he said. “It promises to be a great little resource for the youth of the Valley,” he said.

The skate park will cost $100,000. Pioneer Lakes Development contributed $30,000 of that money.